3rd Congressional District

Did national Republicans purposely darken the skin tone of 3rd District Democratic congressional candidate Ashwin Madia in a television advertisement?

Some Democrats contend they did. But Republicans say that's absurd and stand by the ad focusing on Madia, the son of Indian immigrants.

A KARE-TV news report Wednesday featured what was described as a pair of experts on political advertising and media consulting, who agreed the National Republican Congressional Committee commercial appeared to make Madia's skin tone darker to make him appear different.

Democrats tried to exploit the issue Thursday.

"Even with the amount of negative campaigning during this year's elections, I think all can agree that this sets a new low,'' Madia spokesman Stu Rosenberg said in a statement.

But Karen Hanretty, an NRCC spokeswoman, said the charges are simply wrong.

"It's absurdly ridiculous,'' she said, adding, "They are throwing around accusations at the silliest time of the political season.''

Madia is in a tight race with state Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Eden Prairie, in the 3rd District, which covers much of Hennepin County and a small piece of Anoka County.